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Tag Archive | Jon Rafman

The videos and sculptures of Jon Rafman (b. 1981) are comprised of images that are constantly swallowing one another, much in the way that we consume media ourselves every day. In his commission for the High Line, Rafman presents a sculpture that takes the form of a circle of autophagous animals including a Dog, a Whale, a Lizard, a Pig, and a Human all looped into a speculative food chain.

Jon Rafman’s The Swallower Swallowed is part of the Group Show Mutations, and it will be on view at the High Line Park, West of 10th Avenue right at 23rd Street, Through March of 2018.

Disown – Not For Everyone On Site Climbing Wall! (All Photos By Gail. Click on Any Image to Enlarge for Detail.)

If you’re intrigued by the concept of IKEA and Urban Outfitters collaborating with the snarky minds behind The Onion and TrustoCorp, then DISown – Not For Everyone is a new pop up art installation that you might want to check out. DISown – Not For Everyone is an art exhibition posing as a retail store, but the fact that the display racks of hipster work out clothes and attractively arranged shelves featuring designer household objects (Think: Jonathan Adler) looks and feels so familiar that the “joke” (if you even want to call it that) is not necessarily obvious.

Partial Disclaimer / Artistic Statement

That’s likely why they have a huge printed disclaimer displayed at the entrance to the store, in case someone gets offended. Because, though we did get a kick out of last Thursday’s opening reception, like it says, it’s “Not for Everyone.”

Make Sure to Grab a Shopping Bag to Hold Your Purchases!

Curated by Agatha Wara and DIS Magazine, the exhibition features products / artworks by over 30 contemporary artists and designers, from Ryan Trecartin to Lizzie Fitch, Jon Rafman, Bjarne Melgaard, Amalia Ulman, Hood By Air (HBA) and Telfar. Prices of the times vary from between $50 to $500 — a comment on the new status of the art object. The idea of Consumer Products by Contemporary Artists is not new, but Dis takes the concept into an entirely fresh realm.

Directional Signs Such as The One Above Are Painted Randomly Across the Store’s Floor

Here are a few of our favorite DISown products!

Emma Dakimakura By Jon Rafman: Assorted Emma Watson Body Pillows sell for $400 Each. Now you know what to get for the Harry Potter fan who has everything!

Gay Wedding Ring (gold wedding band embedded in the sole of a sculpted foot) by Simon Fukiwara: $3,500.

Hood By Air (HBA) Salad Bowl

Hot Mic Tie Clip By Francis Carlow: $350.

Whistleblower Beanie/Flower Pot By Jogging: $60 Each. Artist’s Statement: “This series of beanies continues from a photo shoot…where we were able to sneak the names of famous digital whistleblowers into the scene. We are creating an opportunity for people to endorse important countercultural figures, while also pointing to the commercialization of that radical image as a headwear ornament.”

Waterfall Toilet Paper Roll By Nick DeMarco: $150.

Korakrit Arunanondchai Sweatshirt and Sweatpants By Bangkok Boys: $300. Artist’s Statement: “Feel the look of denim on fire with the comfortable, fun, and easy-to-wear BANGKOKBOYS sweatshirt and sweatpants. They’re an easy solution for the problem of not being able to wash and wear clothes that are actually on fire.”

Surely one of the most appealing and fun aspects of DISown – Not For Everyone is its nearly unmatched ability to inspire limitless discourse of all manner among those attending the exhibit. Even the evening’s hired bartender asked me of I could explain to him “What all this [was] about?” After I gave him the Readers Digest Condensed explanation, that “It’s an art exhibit posing as a retail store,” he sincerely thanked me, adding of his employer, “They just send us to the job. They don’t tell us anything.”

DISown – Not For Everyone at Red Bull Studios, Located at 220 West 18th Street (Between 7th and 8th Avenues) in Chelsea, will be on exhibit until April 6th, 2014. Public viewing hours are restricted to Saturdays and Sundays -12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, with live discussions and performances every weekend. A list of weekly events can be found at This Link.